This delightful herb will give you so much pleasure and it is an easy plant to grow, indoors, in a container, it wont mind.  A definite choice for your home herb garden.

Description
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalisis is another member of the prodigious mint family, lamiaceae.  It is an evergreen perennial shrub with an ash-colored scaly bark and  long green needle-shaped  leaves growing in on opposite sides on the stem.  It will grow up to two meters high in warmer climes and less in colder areas.  There are a number of different species of rosemary some of which  are low growing and spread outwards rather than growing straight up.

Native to the Mediterranean part of Europe, rosemary appreciates full sun.   Much of the Mediterranean area has limited rainfall so the plant does not enjoy soggy feet, and probably the biggest threat to the plant is waterlogged soil which will rot the roots.  Depending on the species the plant may have different color flowers  ranging from light to dark blue, white or pink.

It is considered easy to grow for beginner gardeners, and is pest-resistant. Some of the species do well in containers and hanging baskets. The fragrance is noticeable just standing near the bush.

Rosemary has long been regarded as the herb for remembrance. It has been used for cooking and medicinally for hundreds of years. One of its recommended uses is for bad breath.  Coming across other herbs with the same reputation reminds one that modern dentistry is, well, modern!

Cultivation
Rosemary can be grown from seed or cuttings or layered.  Having said that, even experienced gardeners find it difficult to get rosemary seeds to germinate.  Many of the  seeds do not germinate and the ones that do can take weeks.

A tip you might like to try is to stratify the seeds before planting .  This means to place the seeds inside an airtight container such as a self locking plastic bag, and then place the bag in the freezer for a couple of weeks.   Remove them from the freezer and leave them in the  bag  until they have reached room temperature plus an extra 24 hours.     The seeds can be placed in seed trays using a good seed growing mix.   They need to be lightly covered only.  Keep them in the dark and make sure the atmosphere is humid and warm.  Once they germinate, place them in the light and make sure they are warm.  At this stage they do not require a humid atmosphere.   You can plant them outside when the ground is warm and they have a  few leaves.   Lastly, pat yourself on the back.  You have succeeded where many gardeners fail!

However, if you want to be more sure of success, grow your plants from the stems of another rosemary bush. You need a stem that is not woody.  Cut about 2inches and with scissors remove the leaves.  Dip the bottom of the stem into a rooting powder and plant it gently into a pot containing a good starting mix. Keep the cutting moist but not wet which may mean misting or watering several times a day,  It will take around 14 days to root. Once it is well established you can plant it into a larger container and then into the garden.

Layering is great fro the prostate rosemary.  You merely need to peg down a branch into the soil and wait.  It will root itself. Then you can cut the stem away from the mother bush and you have your baby rosemary.

Wherever you plant your rosemary it will need a really well drained soil. A good sandy loam is ideal,.  If your soil is heavy, add sand or small stones  to make sure it drains properly.   Another trick is to raise the bed in which you plant it so that the soil can drain. This is important advice as the one thing rosemary will not tolerate is waterlogged soil.

Rosemary is recommended for Zone areas 8-10. It is a perennial and will tolerate a little frost.    You may wish to mulch the roots to protect them in winter, otherwise, if your plant is in a container you can take it indoors for winter.

This is an ideal plant for beginners.  It really looks after itself and just requires a little pruning to keep it in the shape you want.

Harvesting
Be sure to harvest only well-established rosemary plants.

It is best to wait until any new growth has hardened off, usually in summer and early fall.The prime time for harvesting rosemary for optimum flavor is just prior to flowering.  Avoid harvesting while the plant is blooming.  Cut the stems above the woody growth and discard any  brown or yellow leaves.

You can dry rosemary naturally by hanging stems upside down in a dry area with good air circulation.  Drying rosemary fast will  help to retain its green color and its essential oils.  Otherwise you can place small stems  on to screens to dry.

Rosemary can be frozen. First of all place the sprigs on a baking sheet that has been covered with waxed paper or place inside a plastic bag and seal. Place inside the freezer.  Once the leaves are frozen strip the leaves from the stems and store in an airtight container.   The leaves will lose a lot of their color. Alternatively, place leaves without the stems into ice cube trays and top up with water or oil.  When the cubes are frozen, store in plastic bags, seal and label the contents and the date.

Culinary
Nutritionally, rosemary is extremely high in iron, calcium, and Vitamin B6.

Rosemary is an excellent culinary herb in sweet or savory dishes. It is used in meat and vegetable dishes and lemon flavored drinks and desserts. Experiment with amounts until you get the flavor you desire.  It blends well with bay, chervil, chives, parsley and thyme.

The fresh and dried leaves are used in traditional Mediterranean dishes.  The taste is  slightly  bitter and astringent.   You can add it to lentils, mushrooms, peas, potatoes, spinach, squash, tomatoes.  Try it in soups and sauces.  It is traditional with lamb and goes well with poultry and pork.    Add it to cheese and egg dishes.   Some cooks add it to biscuits, bread, and cakes.  It is used in vinegar, or flavored cooking oils.  Try it with jams and jellies and add it to your next punch recipe. Add it to cold drinks.

Rosemary leaves and sprigs can be used as a garnish. The flowers can be used in salads.
A herbal infusion tea can be made from rosemary leaves.  The best species for the kitchen is  common rosemary as it is less pungent.

Medicinal
Rosemary is a medicinal  herb that has been used for centuries.   It appears to have a positive effect used externally as well as internally..

It stimulates blood flow beneath the skin and therefore is often used as a bath additive to refresh a tired body.  It has been used as a mental stimulant for a tired brain.   This stimulation of the circulation from the outside, has made it  a useful ingredient in cosmetics as a rejuvenator and in hair products. Rosemary is used in dandruff shampoos and is said to prevent premature baldness.

Rosemary has calmative effects and has been used for this purpose in combination with other drugs.  It has been used to treat anxiety and depression,

In Hungary, “Hungary water” was devised to alleviate the pain of rout and rheumatism.  The essence of rosemary was added to wine.  The plant also has anti inflammatory agents and has been used to  improve circulation in an area and thus is helpful for sprains, backache, tendonitis and bursitis.

Rosemary  contains antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic properties.  Its analgesic properties have been used for headaches and migraines.   It can  be used in mouth rinses and gargles

Rosemary’s association with remembrance also comes into the medicinal field.  In ancient days, Greek physicians recommended garlands of rosemary for students to help their memory.  Apparently in modern times this theory was tested by pumping the  smell of rosemary into an area where people were working.   There was evidence of an improved memory.

The active ingredients of rosemary have an antioxidant effect and may lower the risk of neuro-degenerative disease and of strokes.

Rosemary has a therapeutic effect on asthma, the digestive system, the  liver, gall bladder  and heart disease.

Current research is examining the herb’s usefulness in fighting and preventing cancer.  It has been suggested that it could be a useful alternative to the cancer drug Tamoxifen which can cause a range of unpleasant side effects.  Research is ongoing in different countries.

Rosemary has been used for the common cold.  It can be taken as a drink, used in gargles for a sore throat and also used to promote diaphoresis – sweating – to lower fever and remove toxins from the body.

In normal culinary use, rosemary is unlikely to be toxic however in medicinal doses, there could be side effects and it is wise to consult a herbologist before using rosemary  medicinally.

Other uses
In the garden rosemary is used as a hedging and to make topiaries.  It produces a yellow green dye.  It is used in aromatherapy, in candles, potpourris  and  as an incense..  Apparently the wood was used  to make  lutes during the Renaissance period.   It has deterrent qualities for insects  and one mention suggests that it is a deer deterrent.

This is a really useful basic herb for your home herb garden. Grow it inside or outside, it won’t mind.

Good herbs gardening!